Styles of Antique Chest of Drawers

French Antique Chests Of Dressers

• French chest of drawers were made in a variety of styles. Older dressers were typically made with heavier wood such as in Napolean or Louis chests of drawers. By the 1950s, French dressers were being made with thinner pieces of wood. French Provincial dressers typically had curved legs and curved bottom trim. These chests might be hand-painted or white with gold painted accents.

Rococo Revival Dressers

• A typical dresser made in the mid 1850s was made of rosewood. Some dressers during this time period were made with a mirror attached on the top of the chest. The frame of the mirror would often be ornately carved. The dresser might also have a fitted marble top. The bottom section often had three or four drawers.

Marguetry Dressers

• Marquetry antique dressers had a distinctive ornamental style. Early marguetry dressers typically displayed leaves and flower designs. Later marguetry chests exhibited Acanthus leaves and often bore scrolls of foliage and were typically made from mahogany wood.

Oriental Chest of Drawers

• Antique Oriental dressers were often lacquered with ornate metal handles and plates. Carving replaced lock plates and iron hinges or brass was used instead of wrought iron. Vintage Oriental dressers might have a serpentine shape or a plain front. These chests were often painted a bright orange or red with gold accents.